Life's a Beach...

The kids and I are headed out... to the beach, that is! We decided that it would be nice to spend the 4th of July weekend, relaxing in the surf and sand. We are leaving in the morning for Zeebrugge/Blankenberg, Belgium... I haven't been there since 1995, and I really hope it hasn't changed. I loved my trip there with my dear Dutch friend, Martine. I hope to have some pics posted early next week, when we get back.
Have a great holiday weekend!

Our Girl...

She knows.... She knows that she has been chosen... that she has a family. I received an email saying that she found out on Thursday of last week, and she is very excited, though a little disappointed that we live in Germany. I've been told that there is a volunteer at Layla now, that speaks German, and has been teaching her a few words. And they will be doing a class all about Germany, sometime soon. How exciting!
She hasn't received the welcome bag from us yet, but with any luck, it will get to her next weekend. She has already wrote us a letter, and was asking for our address yesterday, so no doubt I will be finding one in my mailbox someday soon! I love that we have the opportunity to communicate with our children before they come home...
Leyton is excited, too... he drew her a picture of our house, and had me type her a little note on the side.... It was too sweet. He is really looking forward to having a big sister! I can't wait to see them together.

So Real All of The Sudden...

Our placement papers (and some great pics of Tensaye) arrived in the mail today... I spent the next 5 minutes signing every page, and mailing them on to Jon. They should be back in the States next week.... Meanwhile, we are waiting for a group assignment for our case to be heard in court.
At this point in the game, it is unlikely that we will make it through court before the annual closure in Sept/October. This is sad news for us, but a wise woman once told me that 'Things have a way of working out'... so far, she hasn't been wrong.
I'll keep you posted.

LEGOLAND DEUTSCHLAND...

Yesterday, I thought it would be fun to play hooky from school, and head off to Legoland.... I was right.

In other news....

We found out today, that we will be staying in Germany for a few more years... However, we will be relocating about 2 hours away to Kaiserslautern (K-Town from here on out!). This news is a little bit bittersweet... we would love to be home with our families and friends... but at the same time, we are thrilled to have 2-3 more years here.
It means more time for Leyton to really get German, I mean, he's fluent, conversationally speaking... but I would love for him to be able to read/write it, too.
It means more time to have visitors! So, come one, come all!
It means a whole lot less headache for us this year, as far as the adoption goes, and Jon's return.... It will be a lot less stress, knowing that we are only moving 2 hours away. As opposed to relocating to the States... with no way of looking for a place to stay, etc...
It means we might actually be able to afford a bigger car! The Audi is nice... but I'm sure it will get old for Tensaye, being sandwiched between the little ones, on the hump!
Keep us in your thoughts/prayers, that the transition will go smoothly...

It's all coming together...

Well, It is official... I received word this afternoon, that our dossier is FINALLY on its way to Ethiopia, and the placement papers for our newest addition... 12 year old Tensaye (pronounced Ten-sigh) are on their way to us!
No more hoping and praying that she won't be snatched up... I can't wait to be able to post pics!

Sometimes, Jon surprises me....

From the bouquet that was delivered to my door this morning....

Thanks baby... They are beautiful. I love you!

Who Wants to Go to Addis???

I'm beginning to plan for the 08/09 Holiday Project Volunteer trip, and I'm looking for a few good men/women! So, if you aren't doing anything in the time between 29 December 2008 and 12 January 2009, and you would like to make a difference in the life of an orphan this Holiday Season, let me know... I would be happy to send you the info/application packet.

socialbug69@hotmail.com


The trip portion of the project will include transportation of gifts from point of origin to Layla House. The first week will be spent sorting and packing gifts, last minute shopping for gifts, and helping out at Layla House where needed. Should you choose to stay on for the full time, the second week will include teaching classes, chaperoning field trips, and helping out at Layla where needed. There may also be an optional excursion into the countryside. Please let me know if you have a special skill, or hobby, that you would like to share with the staff or children. I will be in country for the two weeks specified… You are welcome to join me for the full two weeks, or opt for a shorter one week trip… in which the dates are to be determined based on when the holiday celebration will take place. The holiday falls midweek this year, so it is possible that the celebration will take place either mid week or on the weekend prior or after. We will know in time to book flights.

On the Adoption Front...

I wish I could say that 'No news, is good news'... but not in this case. Our dossier has been sitting at AAI's office for the past month, just waiting on our homestudy to be submitted. Unless it magically shows up there tomorrow.... It is unlikely that we will make it through court before the closure in September.
Its killing me to not be able to post pics of our referral... but I will tell you that she is a lovely 12 year old girl.

Due to Ethiopian Government regualtions, we are not allowed to post pics until our case has gone through court... but you can always email, and I'd be happy to show her off...

Nothing Exciting... Just Cake and Ice Cream.

For Ava's Birthday, we celebrated at our dear friend Mette's House, with a few close friends... She's really getting the hang of the cake and present thing....

Steve... the Yo-Yo Pro.

For those of you who have asked about Steve...

YES, I'm serious. We really were lucky enough to sit next to a Yo-yo pro on our flight from Detroit to Amsterdam.... He works for a group that puts on Elementary School Assemblies... You can check out THE NED SHOW here.... (Steve is the bald one!)



He hasn't been to Ethiopia... But he has an open invitation, and who knows... we might be seeing a lot of pics of Layla kids with Yo-yo's come Christmas!

Thanks Steve!

Lost pics, found...

In case you have already stopped by and checked out the newly uploaded pics... Scroll down, to the "More Pics..." Post, to see the pics I recovered. I'll be back later with some pics from our little cake and ice cream extravaganza today...

2 Years Ago, Today...

My life changed forever... 13 June 2006, was the day that Ava was born.

Its hard for me to put into words the emotion that I feel for Ava's first family.
Two years ago, the world changed not only for me, for us... but also for her first mother, who gave her life, and then made the very difficult choice to allow a stranger to raise her.
My heart will always hurt a little bit on this day, as I think about this very brave young woman, and how she must have felt as she walked away. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to be Ava Sidisse's mother, And I pray that I will be the kind of mother, that her first mother prayed she would find.

Happy Birthday, my love....

Okay... more pics from our trip...

We had a busy few weeks back in the States, and I'm sorry that we didn't get to see everyone. Hopefully, it won't be another whole year before we are home.

Leyton spent a lot of time with his "buddy", Opa.... Who took him and Nick to fly an RC dragonfly at the park, and to the Mud Bog, to watch the monster trucks fling mud...














It was nice to catch up with some old Friends from high school... though the time was short... The kids and I spent a day at the Columbus Zoo, with Steph & Caden....













It was also nice to catch up with the 'Guys'... and their girls, at dinner one night. Of course it is always a good time, and never a dull moment...

The Davis Clan....


Jim & Jason...





Jaclyn & Landon...





Jim,Warren & Devin (I hope I'm spelling that right!)



Warren, Jim, Me, and Jason...





We also spent some time with Jon's family in PA... And I'm missing quite a few pics... not sure if they are burried on my card somewhere, or if I took them, without a card in the camera..... I'm still looking.

****FOUND THE PICS... ****

Grandma and Leyton had fun making bubbles for Little Miss Sunshine...





Meme and Aunt Alice had us all over for dinner and game night...














Uncle Bob, came to help set up the tarp... and had a little mishap... Thank goodness there was a Pittsburgh sewing kit in the garage!



Here are some pics from the Birthday Mom threw for Ava and Leyton...


































Mom, Dad, And everyone... Thanks so much for having us, and for everything... We can't wait to come back! We love you!